Last weekend we set off on an epic adventure. Something new. Something foreign. Something exciting. For a long time now I have had the urge to load up everything you need for a night camping in the outdoors, and with nothing but your own steam and good intention, trudge off into the wilderness and "survive" for a night or 2.
I have been collecting the right "lightweight" gear for a few months now and finally everything lined up, the weather looked good, the gear was tight, and had a few days off to pursue the adventure. So with backpacks full of sleeping bags, blow up mattresses, a tent, jet boiler, cooking implements(too much but I"m a chef c'mon)travel pillows, tools, warm spare clothing , water, and of course camera gear, we strapped up and headed off onto the Razorback trail to Federation hut and on to Mt Featherop in Victorias high country.
Starting at Diamantia hut, around 2.5kms before Mt Hotham village on the Great Alpine road, we parked the jeep, loaded up and made our start on what was to be a hot, wet, grueling, 11km hike through some rugged, shingled, mountainous terrain. I thought i was fairly fit. Strap a backpack weighing 20kg plus, throw in some mountains and an 11km hike and you will find out just how fit you are.
Slowly but surely we made it to our destination of federation hut, nestled beautifully in the Victorian alps, and no sooner than a hammered the last tent peg in the ground, the skies opened and there was a downpour that went on for a solid hour! We waited it out and cooked dinner on the verandah of the hut, along with all the other campers that made it in, kids included. They bring me to shame with their fitness levels:)
After a well earned hot meal we cleaned up and headed to the summit of Mt Feathertop for some sunset pics. This is where things started to get a little disappointing for me. Don't get me wrong, its stunning up there, gorgeous. the rolling hills seem to stretch for miles and miles, and there were ridges, valleys, trees and clouds a plenty. But i was really struggling with trying to find a composition and lighting situation i was truly happy with. I shot a bajillion pics and experimented with all sorts of different angles, view points and scenes, but was ultimately underwhelmed with my results. I found the light to always be behind a hill, or cloud, popping out only for a second, to vanish again once i chased it. But that's the mountains for you, the weather can change in an instant, so you had better be ready.
We trudged up again for sunrise but much of the same, really struggling, but tried to make the most of it photographically. Like i say, it was glorious up there, so stunning, and cant wait to go back, but taking images up there is something i was not completely happy with, and at the end of the day, i think we all need to experience these situations and try to learn, overcome, and adapt to the situations and conditions to better yourself from them and grow as an artist.
All in all, once we got our selves out of the rugged and dry Victorian alps we were battered, blistered, bruised and buggered, but had a feeling of pure achievement and satisfaction from really giving it our all and getting stuck into some outdoor activities we have never experienced before.
Cant wait for the next hiking adventure, already planning and cant wait to share the experience!
